Movable structures and model toys

Abstract

This provides a novel mechanism for movable structures in model toys. [Solution] The movable structure of the model toy comprises a shaft portion in which a plurality of first parts are arranged, and an outer casing portion in which a plurality of second parts, each having a ring shape surrounding the shaft portion, are arranged along the axial direction of the shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion is constructed by rotatably connecting adjacent first parts in the plurality of first parts, and the number of second parts included in the outer casing portion is greater than the number of first parts included in the shaft portion.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a movable structure and a model toy. [Background technology]

[0002] To achieve movements and poses that closely resemble those of humans and animals, model toys (such as doll-type toys) are equipped with various joints and movable parts. These mechanisms enable a wide range of movements and poses. Patent Document 1 proposes a movable structure that can bend and extend. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-27852 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] In model toys such as humanoid robots, joints with a bellows-like appearance are sometimes used. Even in this case, the joints of the model toy are required to achieve movement that is as close as possible to that of human joints.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a novel mechanism for a movable structure in model toys. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, a movable structure as one aspect of the present invention is a movable structure for a model toy, comprising: a shaft portion in which a plurality of first parts are arranged; and an outer casing portion in which a plurality of second parts, each having a ring shape surrounding the shaft portion, are arranged along the axial direction of the shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion is constructed by rotatably connecting adjacent first parts in the plurality of first parts, and the number of second parts included in the outer casing portion is greater than the number of first parts included in the shaft portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a novel mechanism for a movable structure can be provided for model toys. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the external configuration of a model toy according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the configuration of the movable structure of the right arm in one embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram showing the assembly of the shaft portion of a movable structure in one embodiment. [Figure 4] A diagram showing the assembly of the exterior part of a movable structure in one embodiment. [Figure 5] A diagram showing the assembly of the exterior part of a movable structure in one embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure shows the assembly of the detachment prevention component, the component to be attached, and the cap component of a movable structure in one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and includes changes and modifications to the configuration within the scope of the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments are essential to the present invention. The same reference numeral is used for identical components, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0010] A configuration example of the model toy 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of the model toy 10 of the present embodiment. The arrows of X, Y, and Z indicate the forward, left, and upward directions of the model toy 10, respectively, and the same applies to other drawings.

[0011] The model toy 10 includes a head 11, a chest 12, arm parts 13a to 13b, leg parts 14a to 14b, and a waist 15 that constitute the main body part. In the present embodiment, a humanoid robot will be described as an example of the model toy 10, but it is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention can be applied to various models such as humans, animals, robots, insects, dinosaurs, weapons, ornaments, etc.

[0012] The head 11 is connected to the chest 12. On the chest 12, the right arm part 13a and the left arm part 13b are respectively connected to the sides, and the waist 15 is connected to the lower part. The waist 15 includes a hip joint, and the right leg part 14a and the left leg part 14b are respectively connected. Further, right hand parts 16a and left hand parts 16b are respectively attached to the tips of the right arm part 13a and the left arm part 13b.

[0013] In addition, in each of the arm parts 13a to 13b and the leg parts 14a to 14b of the model toy 10 of the present embodiment, a movable structure 20 having a bellows-like appearance is applied as a joint part (elbow joint part, knee joint). In such a configuration, the movable structure 20 corresponding to the joint part is required to realize a movement closer to that of the joints of humans, animals, etc. For example, in the model toy 10 configured as a humanoid robot in the present embodiment, the movable structure 20 is required to realize a movement closer to that of the joints of humans.

[0014] <Configuration of the movable structure> Hereinafter, a configuration example of the movable structure 20 in the right arm portion 13a of the model toy 10 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the movable structure 20 of the right arm portion 13a. The movable structure 20 of the right arm portion 13a includes a shaft portion 21 and an exterior portion 22 surrounding the shaft portion 21. In FIG. 2, in order to show the structure of the shaft portion 21, illustration of the front half of the exterior portion 22 is omitted. That is, in FIG. 2, a cross-sectional structure of the exterior portion 22 is shown. Hereinafter, a configuration example of the movable structure 20 of the right arm portion 13a will be described as a representative, but a movable structure 20 having the same configuration as that of the right arm portion 13a can also be applied to each of the left arm portion 13b and the leg portions 14a to 14b.

[0015] The shaft portion 21 is configured by arranging a plurality of inner components (first components) 21a to 21c. Specifically, it is configured by rotatably connecting adjacent inner components 21 among the plurality of inner components 21a to 21c. The inner component 21b is rotatably connected to the inner component 21a about the rotation axis A1, and the inner component 21c is rotatably connected to the inner component 21b about the rotation axis A2. In the movable structure 20 shown in FIG. 2, the shaft portion 21 is constituted by three inner components 21a to 21c, but the number of inner components included in the shaft portion 21 is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more.

[0016] The exterior portion 22 is configured by arranging a plurality of outer components (second components) 22a to 22e along the axial direction of the shaft portion 21. Each of the outer components 22a to 22e is configured in a ring shape surrounding the shaft portion 21, that is, a ring shape including an opening through which the shaft portion 21 passes. Each of the outer components 22a to 22e is not fixed (connected) to the shaft portion 21, but is provided so as to be movable (for example, rotatable) with respect to the shaft portion 21. Further, the plurality of outer components 22a to 22e are not fixed (connected) to each other, but are provided so as to be movable (for example, rotatable) with respect to the shaft portion 21 independently of each other. By arranging such a plurality of outer components 22a to 22e along the axial direction of the shaft portion 21, the movable structure 20 (exterior portion 22) has a bellows-like appearance.

[0017] In this embodiment, the movable structure 20 has a structure in which the number of outer parts 22a to 22e included in the exterior part 22 is greater than the number of inner parts 21a to 21c included in the shaft part 21. This structure makes it possible to achieve movements closer to those of human or animal joints in the movable structure 20 used as a joint. For example, in the movable structure 20 used as a joint in a humanoid robot, it is possible to achieve movements closer to those of human joints. In the movable structure 20 shown in Figure 2, the exterior part 22 contains five outer parts 22a to 22e, which is greater than the number of inner parts included in the shaft part 21. However, the number of outer parts included in the exterior part 22 is not limited to five; it is sufficient if it is greater than the number of inner parts included in the shaft part 21.

[0018] The movable structure 20 may further include a detachment prevention part 23, a mounting part 24, and a cap part 25. The detachment prevention part 23 is a part attached to the end of the shaft part 21 (inner part 21c) to prevent the exterior part 22 (multiple outer parts 22a to 22e) from detaching (coming off) from the shaft part 21. The mounting part 24 is a part attached to the chest part 12 of the model toy 10 and is rotatably connected to the detachment prevention part 23 around the pivot axis A3. The mounting part 24 may correspond to the shoulder joint of the model toy 10. The cap part 25 is a part that covers the detachment prevention part 23 as part of the appearance of the movable structure 20, and is shown as a cross-sectional structure in Figure 2.

[0019] Next, we will explain the assembly of the movable structure 20 step by step with reference to Figures 3 to 6 to show an example of the configuration of the movable structure 20. Figures 3 to 6 are diagrams for explaining the assembly of the movable structure 20.

[0020] Figure 3 shows the assembly of the shaft portion 21. As described above, the shaft portion 21 in the movable structure 20 of this embodiment includes three internal parts 21a to 21c.

[0021] First, as shown in Figure 3(a), the inner parts 21a to 21b are connected so as to be rotatable relative to each other. Specifically, a projection C is attached to one end of the inner part 21a.12 , 22 is provided, and an opening C is provided at one end of the inner part 21b 12 is provided. The inner parts 21a to 21b have a protrusion C 11 and the opening C 12 are engaged with each other to be connected. As a result, with the extension axis of the protrusion C 11 as the rotation axis A1, the inner part 21a and the inner part 21b are rotatably connected. In the example of FIG. 3, the inner part 21a has a protrusion C 11 provided, and the inner part 21b has an opening C 12 provided. However, an opening may be provided in the inner part 21a and a protrusion may be provided in the inner part 21b.

[0022] Next, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the inner parts 21b to 21c are rotatably connected to each other. Specifically, an opening C 21 is provided at the other end of the inner part 21b, and a protrusion C 22 is provided at one end of the inner part 21c. The inner parts 21b to 21c are connected by engaging the opening C 21 with the protrusion C 22 As a result, with the extension axis of the protrusion C<​​​​​​​​​​​​First, as shown in Figure 4(a), the outer component 22a is attached to the shaft portion 21, which is connected to a plurality of inner components 21a to 21c. Specifically, the ends of the inner components 21c are inserted into the opening of the ring-shaped outer component 22a, and the outer component 22a is moved along the axial direction of the shaft portion 21 to the base of the shaft portion 21 (i.e., the position of the inner component 21a). This attaches the outer component 22a to the shaft portion 21.

[0025] Next, as shown in Figure 4(b), the outer component 22b is attached to the shaft portion 21. Specifically, the end of the inner component 21c is inserted into the opening of the ring-shaped outer component 22b, and the outer component 22b is moved along the axial direction of the shaft portion 21 to the position of the outer component 22a that is already attached to the shaft portion 21. This attaches the outer component 22b to the shaft portion 21.

[0026] Similarly, as shown in Figures 4(c) to 4(d), the outer parts 22c to 22d are attached to the shaft 21. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4(c), the end of the inner part 21c is inserted into the opening of the ring-shaped outer part 22c, and the outer part 22c is moved along the axial direction of the shaft 21 to the position of the outer part 22b already attached to the shaft 21. Also, as shown in Figure 4(d), the end of the inner part 21c is inserted into the opening of the ring-shaped outer part 22d, and the outer part 22d is moved along the axial direction of the shaft 21 to the position of the outer part 22c already attached to the shaft 21. In this way, the outer parts 22c to 22d are attached to the shaft 21.

[0027] Finally, as shown in Figure 5(a), the outer component 22e is attached to the shaft portion 21. Specifically, the end of the inner component 21c is inserted into the opening of the ring-shaped outer component 22e, and the outer component 22e is moved along the axial direction of the shaft portion 21 to the position of the outer component 22d that is already attached to the shaft portion 21. As a result, the outer component 22e is attached to the shaft portion 21, and as shown in Figure 5(b), the multiple outer components 22a to 22e of the exterior portion 22 are arranged around the shaft portion 21.

[0028] Here, each of the outer components 22a to 22d included in the exterior portion 22 may include, for example, a first ring portion P1 and a second ring portion P2 continuous with the first ring portion P1, as shown in Figures 4(a) to (d). The first ring portion P1 has an opening slightly larger than the outer shape (outer circumference) of the shaft portion 21. The second ring portion P2 has an opening larger than the outer shape (outer circumference) of the first ring portion P1. Also, the outer component 22e shown in Figure 5(a) includes only the second ring portion P2 and does not include the first ring portion P1.

[0029] In this configuration, the multiple outer parts 22a to 22e are arranged such that a portion of the first ring portion P1 of one adjacent outer part is covered by the second ring portion P2 of the other. Specifically, a portion of the first ring portion P1 of outer part 22a is covered by the second ring portion P2 of outer part 22b. Similarly, a portion of the first ring portion P1 of outer part 22b is covered by the second ring portion P2 of outer part 22c, a portion of the first ring portion P1 of outer part 22c is covered by the second ring portion P2 of outer part 22d, and a portion of the first ring portion P1 of outer part 22d is covered by outer part 22e. As a result, as shown in Figure 5(b), the exterior part 22 can have a bellows-like appearance, and the exterior part 22 can be flexibly deformed in accordance with the bending (rotation) of the shaft portion 21 at each pivot axis A1 to A2.

[0030] Figure 6 shows the assembly of the anti-detachment component 23, the component to be attached 24, and the cap component 25. As shown in Figure 6(a), the anti-detachment component 23 includes two members 23a to 23b that sandwich the end of the shaft portion 21 (inner component 21c), and is attached to the end of the shaft portion 21 by sandwiching the end of the shaft portion 21 with the two members 23a to 23b. The component to be attached 24 is rotatably connected to the anti-detachment component 23 by being sandwiched by the two members 23a to 23b of the anti-detachment component 23. The cap component 25 is attached to the anti-detachment component 23 so as to cover the anti-detachment component 23, as shown in Figure 6(b). As a result, a movable structure 20 having a bellows-like appearance is formed, as shown in Figure 6(c).

[0031] As described above, the movable structure 20 of this embodiment has a structure in which the number of outer parts 22a to 22e included in the outer casing 22 is greater than the number of inner parts 21a to 21c included in the shaft 21. In other words, the movable structure 20 of this embodiment has a structure in which the number of movable parts formed between adjacent outer parts in the outer casing 22 is greater than the number of movable parts formed between adjacent inner parts in the shaft 21. This structure makes it possible to achieve movements in the movable structure 20 used as a joint that are closer to those of joints in humans, animals, etc.

[0032] <Summary of Embodiments> The above embodiments disclose at least the following movable structures and model toys. (1) A movable structure for a model toy, A shaft portion in which multiple first components are arranged, An outer casing comprising a plurality of second parts, each having a ring shape surrounding the shaft portion, arranged along the axial direction of the shaft portion, Equipped with, The shaft portion is constructed by rotatably connecting adjacent first parts in the plurality of first parts, A movable structure characterized in that the number of second components included in the exterior portion is greater than the number of first components included in the shaft portion. (2) The movable structure according to (1), characterized in that the number of movable parts formed between adjacent first parts in the exterior portion is greater than the number of movable parts formed between adjacent second parts in the shaft portion. (3) Each of the plurality of second parts includes a first ring portion having an opening larger than the outer shape of the shaft portion, and a second ring portion that is continuous with the first ring portion and has an opening larger than the outer shape of the first ring portion. The movable structure according to (1) or (2), characterized in that the plurality of second parts are arranged such that a portion of the first ring portion of one of the adjacent second parts is covered by the second ring portion of the other second part. (4) The movable structure according to any one of (1) to (3), characterized in that the plurality of first parts are rotatably connected with respect to a pivot axis by the engagement of the opening of one of the adjacent first parts with respect to a projection of the other first part. (5) The movable structure according to any one of (1) to (4), characterized in that each of the plurality of second parts is not fixed to the shaft and is provided to be movable relative to the shaft. (6) The movable structure according to any one of (1) to (5), characterized in that the plurality of second parts are not fixed to each other but are provided to be movable independently of each other. (7) The movable structure according to any one of (1) to (4), further comprising a detachment prevention component attached to the end of the shaft portion to prevent the plurality of second components from detaching from the shaft portion. (8) A model toy comprising a movable structure as described in any one of (1) to (7). (9) The model toy according to (8), characterized in that the movable structure corresponds to the joint portion of the model toy.

[0033] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 10: Model toy, 13: Arms, 14: Legs, 20: Movable structure, 21: Shaft, 21a~21c: Inner parts (first part), 22: Outer part, 22a~22e: Outer parts (second part), 23: Detachment prevention member

Claims

1. A movable structure for a model toy, A shaft portion in which multiple first components are arranged, An outer casing comprising a plurality of second parts, each having a ring shape surrounding the shaft portion, arranged along the axial direction of the shaft portion, Equipped with, The shaft portion is constructed by rotatably connecting adjacent first parts in the plurality of first parts, A movable structure characterized in that the number of second parts included in the exterior portion is greater than the number of first parts included in the shaft portion.

2. The movable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of movable parts formed between adjacent first parts in the exterior portion is greater than the number of movable parts formed between adjacent second parts in the shaft portion.

3. Each of the plurality of second parts includes a first ring portion having an opening larger than the outer shape of the shaft portion, and a second ring portion that is continuous with the first ring portion and has an opening larger than the outer shape of the first ring portion. The movable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of second parts are arranged such that a portion of the first ring portion of one of the adjacent second parts is covered by the second ring portion of the other second part.

4. The movable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of first parts are rotatably connected with respect to a projection, such that the opening of one of the adjacent first parts engages with the projection of the other first part, with the projection of the first part being the pivot axis.

5. The movable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the plurality of second parts is not fixed to the shaft and is provided to be movable relative to the shaft.

6. The movable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of second parts are not fixed to each other but are provided to be movable independently of each other.

7. The movable structure according to claim 1, further comprising a detachment prevention component attached to the end of the shaft portion to prevent the plurality of second components from detaching from the shaft portion.

8. A model toy comprising a movable structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The model toy according to claim 8, characterized in that the movable structure corresponds to the joint portion of the model toy.

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